Detroit Red Wings: These guys are a fucking disgrace

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Latest Mock Draft from The Athletic. This would work quite well for us if it goes this way:

With about a week until the actual NHL Draft takes place, we leaned on our beat writers to provide insight into each team’s draft strategy by making them select their respective club’s first-round pick.

Corey Pronman added commentary on each selection but did not make the picks. His own mock draft can be found here, plus his draft board and player scouting reports.

1. New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes, C, USNTDP-USHL

Kaapo Kakko looked great at the World Championship and has the resume of a potential No. 1 pick. Still, what Jack Hughes has done as an amateur is remarkable. It is hard to ignore GM Ray Shero’s connection to the family and the chance to pair Hughes with Nico Hischier as the team’s top two centers. Hughes has electric speed and skill, and as his body matures, he could develop into one of the premier players in the league. Kakko might be more ready for NHL success in 2019, but this pick is about the next seven-plus years, not the next seven months. – Corey Masisak

Pronman: Corey’s take on Corey’s pick. I approve. Taking the projected franchise center at No. 1 is typically a good move.

2. New York Rangers
Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS-Liiga

I’m not even sure I wouldn’t take Kakko with the first pick overall, and I’m not certain that New Jersey won’t on June 21. But thankfully Masisak made the decision for me – and Devils GM Shero, who will make the real decision for the Rangers, who, by the way, will be happy to take Hughes if that opportunity presents itself. It will be the easiest decision the Rangers have ever made at a draft table.

Kakko might be the better fit for the Rangers, though they could certainly use a top center. They have a gaping hole in the goal-scoring department, and Kakko seems to be more of a sniper than Hughes, though Kakko can certainly pass it too, as we’ve seen at the world juniors and the world championships. At about 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Kakko seems the perfect type of straight-ahead, but skilled, player desired by coach David Quinn, who will surely add one of his favorite maxims to the 18-year-old: “There’s no B.S. in his game.” The Rangers haven’t drafted an offensive forward like Kakko since Alexei Kovalev. – Rick Carpiniello

Pronman: What the Rangers lack in their rebuild is a foundational player. Kakko is that. The rebuild may turn around quickly now.

3. Chicago Blackhawks
Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDP-USHL

I was torn between Turcotte and Bowen Byram. Honestly, Byram is probably what the Blackhawks need right now. He could be in their season-opening lineup. But because the Blackhawks have drafted five defensemen in the first two rounds over the past three years and appear set as of now to return at least Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Connor Murphy, Erik Gustafsson and Slater Koekkoek from this past season’s defense, they probably don’t have a spot for Byram. Turcotte likely requires some patience and will probably spend a year in college – he’s committed to Wisconsin – but he seems to have the greatest upside among the forwards after Hughes and Kakko. As one source quite familiar with Turcotte recently said, “He just does a little of everything. His compete factor is what sets him apart. I think he wants it.” Someone else recently used Jonathan Toews at the same age as a comparable. The source completely agreed. He said, “That’s a good comparison. He’s focused and works.” A Toews-like player to one day replace Toews? The Blackhawks could certainly use that. – Scott Powers

Pronman: Turcotte would be my pick here, as well. Between a projected No. 1 center or a No. 1 defenseman, I would always take the center in terms of value to a team and less projection risk.

4. Colorado Avalanche (from Senators)
Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge-WHL

One would believe the Avalanche pick Cozens in this situation. There is going to be a debate about whether or not GM Joe Sakic and the front office should select a forward or Vancouver Giants defenseman Bowen Byram. Sakic said recently the team could go “either way.” Having Byram in addition to Samuel Girard, Cale Makar and Conor Timmins would make Colorado extremely formidable, but this is still a team that needs to find supplementary scoring. It could take a run at Kirby Dach or Vasili Podkolzin yet it appears Cozens makes sense. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, he gives them size either down the middle or on the wing. He also has the skill and speed that Sakic and others have often discussed when it comes to the team’s long-term outlook. – Ryan Clark

Pronman: If they wanted to pick a center, I’d prefer Trevor Zegras as a true elite playmaker that stylistically the team lacks, but Cozens is very reasonable and could be a great complement to Nathan MacKinnon as the No. 2 center.

5. Los Angeles Kings
Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver-WHL

I’ve always longed to sound like the head of amateur scouting or an NHL general manager on draft day.

“We couldn’t believe Byram was still on the board at No. 5.”

Wish fulfillment time.

When you have the chance to select a No. 1 defenseman, you take advantage of the opportunity. Big picture: Byram can control the game in all of the critical areas. More specifically, he can break up plays and start the play moving out. One scout who has kept a close eye on him this past season highlighted the fact that Byram can create transition and be part of the transition. “He’s got a great brain. Great vision and his hands can do what his eyes see,” said one draft analyst. Byram was my selection for the Kings on April 9, the day of the NHL Draft lottery, and what he was able to do in the playoffs for the Vancouver Giants only solidified that belief. The Giants lost in Game 7 in overtime of the WHL Championship to the Prince Albert Raiders on May 13. – Lisa Dillman

Pronman: The Kings need a lot in their rebuild, so getting a projected No. 1 defenseman is a good place to go even if their fans will discuss how little scoring the team has. While I like a player like Rasmus Kupari a lot, they need more. What this shows is how much work more there is to be done with the Kings.

6. Detroit Red Wings
Trevor Zegras, C, USNTDP-USHL

An assist-per-game player this season for the USNTDP, Zegras would give Detroit something it doesn’t currently have: a top-notch playmaker to run the power play. Easy to overlook playing on such a loaded team down the middle, Zegras’ vision and passing give him star-caliber potential. The Red Wings need another high-end center to slot into their top six behind Dylan Larkin, and ideally, they’ll also need someone who can get the most out of dynamic winger prospect Filip Zadina. That’s Zegras to a T. He wouldn’t have an issue driving play from the wing, either, giving Detroit flexibility if it wants to play 2018 first-round pivot Joe Veleno higher up the lineup. Zegras’ coach, John Wroblewski, also praised Zegras’ evolution into, “a fiery competitor who will get in people’s faces.” That fits right in with what the Red Wings are trying to build. – Max Bultman

Pronman: The Wings have had a few high picks in recent years but none match the skill level or imaginative abilities Zegras brings. He instantly mans the flank on their first power play unit for a decade and fills a crucial organizational need, while also being a fit on talent. Zegras to Zadina could become a thing. Z to Z? Double Z? Don’t ZZZZ on me … I’ve got better material.

7. Buffalo Sabres
Cole Caufield, RW, USNTDP-USHL

The way the Sabres are set up through the organization at the moment, choosing a forward, and most ideally a center, seems like the most prudent move. There are a lot of excellent pivots in this draft, but Buffalo needs more goal scoring. Caufield lacks size at 5-foot-7 and 163-pounds, but he’s piled up goals with the USNTDP at a historic rate. Better than Phil Kessel, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane. The best ever. Size gets talked to death and there’s no doubt the Sabres could use more skilled size up front, but a player that scores this much cannot be ignored. Caufield’s shot is dynamic and smaller players have proven to be excellent in the NHL of late. He’s committed to the University of Wisconsin next season, which checks off another box to pique Jason Botterill’s interest. Caufield has flown up mock draft boards the past few months, which drives the hype factor, but his goal-scoring ability made that happen on its own. – Joe Yerdon

Pronman: I would love Caufield to the Sabres here. He would be my best player available and would fit in well on the wing with Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt to feed him goals for the next decade.

8. Edmonton Oilers
Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon-WHL

The Oilers desperately need more high-end talent up front – both on the NHL roster and within the organization – and there should be a few options available at No. 8. Dach really fits the bill. One WHL executive compared the 6-foot-4 Saskatoon Blade to Ryan Getzlaf in terms of size, skating and his penchant to think pass before shot. Dach may not have the same snarl that Getzlaf has – or notably had in his junior days – but plays a similar power game. Dach would give the Oilers positional flexibility, too. While he’s played center for the Blades, Dach excelled at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky tournament at right wing. Two other WHL sources believe Dach projects as an NHL winger. Connor McDavid and one of Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are entrenched in the first two center spots in Edmonton. Dach, therefore, could slot lower down the lineup at that position or ride shotgun to one of the big boys down the road. That he’s from the Edmonton area is a nice cherry on top of the sundae. – Daniel Nugent-Bowman

Pronman: I personally feel Dach profiles better as a center than a winger, but he can be a top forward anywhere he plays. I think the Oilers would likely prefer Cozens to be available here in terms of the style of player to slot in, but Dach would be a very fine add at No. 8, if he gets here.

9. Anaheim Ducks
Peyton Krebs, C, Winnipeg-WHL

There was a little deliberation with this one after Dach was snapped up. Center and defense are two positions where the Ducks can infuse their organization with a high-level prospect to fill holes with the likely graduation of Sam Steel and Jacob Larsson to full-time NHL duty. Philip Broberg and Victor Soderstrom are enticing defensemen and can help make up for the trades of Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour. But the Ducks have a serious need to address their middle, especially with Getzlaf on the backside of his career and Ryan Kesler possibly done because of his problematic right hip. The Ducks’ front office can’t ignore the heady, playmaking Krebs sitting there for them. Never mind that Krebs played on a Kootenay Ice team that struggled plenty in the WHL this season. He has the kind of offensive skills to be a top-six center, a high compete level and his hockey IQ might be his best trait. Those attributes are what Anaheim covets. (Also, I’m not betting on the Ducks suddenly reversing their draft trend and snatching up Vasili Podkolzin and waiting for him to finish his KHL contract. The last Russian player they drafted was goalie Igor Bobkov in 2009). – Eric Stephens

Pronman: This pick was made before news of Krebs tearing his Achilles. With that said, after polling NHL sources, I don’t expect Krebs’ stock to change dramatically. He would be a great addition to the organization and, along with Steel, provide the Ducks with two top center prospects.

10. Vancouver Canucks
Matthew Boldy, LW, USNTDP-USHL

Despite the prospect pool taking steps forward, there are still needs within the group, in particular, it needs some impact wingers and defencemen. Given how this draft class shakes out, if a player like Boldy is available at 10th-overall, it would be hard to pass on the high-end winger to take that needed defenceman. Boldy would be a fantastic compliment to either Elias Pettersson or Bo Horvat in the Cancuks’ top six. Boldy has such a balanced offensive skill set that he could be the playmaker on a line or the trigger man. That versatility is something the organization will likely value. Boldy is a player who could very well be one and done at the NCAA level, so it helps ensure that the big four (Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, Horvat and Pettersson) will get some much-needed help sooner rather than later. – Ryan Biech

Pronman: Boldy would be a great player to get at No. 10 due to his size and elite skill level. He plays at a similar pace to Horvat and Pettersson, and thinks the game at a high level, so he could slot with Pettersson very well.

11. Philadelphia Flyers
Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas-SHL

Soderstrom fits here for quite a few reasons. His combination of puck-moving skills and commitment to two-way play from the backend seems to match the preferred player type of both the holdovers from the Ron Hextall regime and Chuck Fletcher’s own drafting tendencies in Minnesota. Soderstrom fills a need, as the Flyers are low on potential impact blue line prospects with the graduation of Philippe Myers. Soderstrom’s experience in a high-end pro league (SHL) could be attractive to a front office shifting to more of a win-now approach. And finally, the organization has drafted numerous Brynas products in recent years (Oskar Lindblom, Felix Sandstrom, Samuel Ersson, Marcus Westfalt); they know the club well.

If available at No. 11, the talented Vasili Podkolzin would certainly be tempting, but Fletcher doesn’t have a track record of taking Russian players early in drafts (and has the Kirill Kaprizov situation fresh in his mind). Alex Newhook also would be an attractive choice but comes with quality of competition concerns due to his BCHL background. Soderstrom, on the other hand, makes sense positionally, stylistically (a defensively-sound right-handed defenseman to potentially pair with Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim or Shayne Gostisbehere long-term) and organizationally. – Charlie O’Connor

Pronman: Hard to add more than what Charlie said. I do think it would be hard for Philly to pass on Broberg at No. 11 if he’s still there and they want a defenseman, but Soderstrom brings a calmer and safer style of play while still having a lot of skill.

12. Minnesota Wild
Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA-VHL

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

With all due respect to Podkolzin, but … ughhhhhhhhhh.

Naturally, after four years of anxiously-awaiting Wild fans incessantly asking, “When’s Kirill Kaprizov coming,” this latest studly Russian winger’s just sitting there for the Wild’s taking … with (at least) two more years left on his KHL contract to boot.

$%#&!!!

But as the old saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”

The Wild’s old regime arguably sat too much on the periphery after drafting the great Kaprizov in the fifth round in 2015 and put too much trust in the belief that nothing was getting lost in translation. By the time the Wild wanted to sign Kaprizov and bring him over, the star signed an unbreakable two-year extension in the KHL and now the franchise can’t get its grips on him until 2020-21.

If Paul Fenton, leading the Wild during his second draft as GM, learned anything from his predecessor’s past missteps, he’ll be a lot more preemptive with Podkolzin so the kid feels the Minnesota Wild love. By all accounts, Podkolzin’s a stud, somebody who led the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with eight goals in 2018 and a gifted, electric player who has impressed at every level. And, if you remove the unfortunate Kaprizov situation, the reality is you’d accept that Podkolzin playing his 18- and 19-year-old years in Russia is not a bad development path for a high-end prospect. And, hey, maybe adding another Russian will make Kaprizov a little more comfortable once he comes over.

So, take a deep breath, Wild fans. Buckle up and prepare. Oh, and if the Wild do draft Podkolzin, I will block every person who tweets me the next two years asking, “When’s Podkolzin coming over?” – Michael Russo

Pronman: After that take, I definitely want the Wild to take Podkolzin now! I’m a proponent of chaos. It would be very hard to pass on Podkolzin at No. 12 even if it is adding to the KHL fun Wild fans have experienced the past few years. He brings so much to the table and they don’t have much of anything in their system. I think making this pick would be a realistic assessment that the Wild need to take a few steps back to take a step forward.

So Mike, when’s Podkolzin coming over?

13. Florida Panthers
Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga-OHL

With Byram expected to go in the top of this draft, the Panthers would look at either Harley or Philip Broberg as they work to introduce some high-end defensive help into their system. The thought here is that, given a choice of the two, Florida will take Harley. A native of Syracuse, Harley had a big season for Mississauga, shot up the rankings and should be a first-round pick regardless of whether or not he is selected by the Panthers. He is big at 6-foot-3 and is a terrific skater. Although the Panthers have an immediate need for a right-handed shot, Harley, who turns 18 in August, shoots left but he would not be expected to challenge for a roster spot for at least a year or two anyway. Florida has not selected a defenseman in the first round since taking Aaron Ekblad first in 2014, but that should change in Vancouver. – George Richards

Pronman: I do expect Florida to take a defenseman unless the top name go high. Harley, Broberg and Moritz Seider are all in the mix, and Harley would be a perfectly reasonable pick here.

14. Arizona Coyotes
Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton-OHL

The Coyotes take a long hard look at defenseman Philip Broberg, but with nine defensemen selected in the past two drafts, a dearth of high-end forwards in the system and a forward of Kaliyev‘s potential still on the board, they can’t resist. Kaliyev’s combination of goal-scoring, playmaking ability, hockey sense and his cannon of a shot give the Coyotes a chance to upgrade the aforementioned system that holds Barrett Hayton as its only probable impact forward. Kaliyev finished fourth in the OHL with 51 goals, second with 20 power play goals, second with 320 shots and sixth with 102 points for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was tied for sixth in points with 102. The main concern with Kaliyev is his compete level. It’s a legitimate concern and there are others, but as one NHL scout said recently, “you have to be careful not to write off players too soon.” That goes double for a 17-year-old whose main flaw does not appear to be a character issue. – Craig Morgan

Pronman: Kaliyev would provide a scoring touch the Coyotes currently lack in a big way. Whether Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz or Hayton, they have plenty of players to get Kaliyev the puck and let him pot 30-plus goals.

15. Montreal Canadiens
Philip Broberg, D, AIK-Allsvenskan

If the draft were to play out like this, the Canadiens would be in an ideal spot. It’s not often you can say that with the No. 15 pick, but here they are, with two high-end options to address their biggest need and a tantalizing homegrown forward still up for grabs. While his postseason flurry with the Halifax Mooseheads will make center Raphael Lavoie very tempting, I think the Canadiens would be hard-pressed to ignore the gaping hole on left defense on their organizational depth chart. And there is Broberg, just sitting there, a big defenseman with exceptional wheels who was named the top player at his position by the IIHF directorate at the Under-18 world championships, helping Sweden win the gold medal. Broberg was second in the tournament among defensemen in scoring with six points in seven games. The thing is, he was far behind the player who finished first, and that player is also available. Cam York of the USNTDP had 11 points in seven games and plays a dynamic game, seemingly tailor-made for the modern NHL. Both fill a need, but I believe only one of them does that while also meeting the standard of best player available, and that’s Broberg. It is rare to see a player his size skate the way he does, and the opportunity to add a player who does something that fundamental to the game at an elite level is a hard thing to pass up. – Arpon Basu

Pronman: I don’t think Broberg will get close to No. 15, but he’d be a steal at this slot as a potential first pairing defenseman and would up there with Mikhail Sergachev in terms of most talented defensemen the Habs have drafted in recent years.

16. Colorado Avalanche
Spencer Knight, G, USNTDP-USHL

This might be a bit high but Knight would make a ton of sense for the following reasons. Cale Makar is the top player and defensive prospect-ish figure in Colorado’s system. If the Avalanche take another forward at No. 4, such as Cozens, then, it would give them a potentially high-end forward. So why not go after a potentially high-end goaltender? The Avalanche have struggled to develop a long-term goaltender for more than a decade, and Knight could be the answer. Drafting him would give the Avs five goaltending prospects. It is a high figure but it must be viewed this way. Knight would be a high-end prospect, while Justus Annunen (third round, 2018), Petr Kvaca (fourth round, 2017) and Adam Werner (fifth round, 2016) represent the fact they’ve tried to find talent in the middle rounds, whereas Shamil Shmakov (seventh round, 2018) shows they took a flyer on someone who could pan out and be a potential steal. If presented in that manner, it reinforces how Sakic is going all in on trying to find an internal long-term goaltender for an organization expected to compete for the Stanley Cup for several years to come. – Clark

Pronman: Colorado is a prime candidate for Knight because of its two firsts (and because the Rangers with two firsts have Igor Shesterkin). I’m not sure I would make that bet at No. 16, especially with top forward prospects in Alex Newhook and Ryan Suzuki on the board, but it is a team a lot of scouts think will be looking hard at Knight.

17. Vegas Golden Knights
Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie-OHL

Vegas fans, don’t throw those Suzuki jerseys away quite yet. This name is a familiar one for the Golden Knights, as they drafted Ryan’s older brother Nick with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He has since been traded to Montreal for Max Pacioretty, but George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon will be interested in Ryan Suzuki. He has elite vision that rivals the players atop the draft, but his point totals in junior haven’t been as impressive as many expected when he was taken with the first-overall pick in the OHL draft. His shot isn’t as good as his brother’s, but his skating is better, and he’s a creative playmaker in the offensive zone — something Vegas is sorely lacking in its prospect pool. The Golden Knights have always liked smart, two-way players and would get both by taking their second Suzuki in three years. Another fantastic option on the board who would check all of the boxes is Newhook, who tore up the BCHL this season. – Jesse Granger

Pronman: I’d be fine with either Suzuki or Newhook here for Vegas. I’d prefer Newhook, but Vegas has done a lot of homework likely on the Suzuki family. After Cody Glass graduates, its system will really lack scoring punch so either would provide that.

18. Dallas Stars
Cam York, D, USNTDP-USHL

At this point, it feels like it’s a decision between defenseman York and center Newhook. The Stars have much of the long-term defensive core locked up, but with paydays coming for Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen, adding a fourth piece like York would make sense, especially with an uncertain future for Stephen Johns and no true top-end defensive prospects. Newhook would be enticing and the Stars haven’t been afraid of taking long looks at Jr. A prospects, but with the emergence of Roope Hintz and the investment in Ty Dellandrea, the Stars are in a better spot now when it comes to the long-term depth down the middle behind Tyler Seguin. For that reason, York makes more sense in this spot and, as Jim Nill likes to say, “You can never have too many defensemen.” – Sean Shapiro

Pronman: York or Newhook would be fine for me. York excels on the power play so long-term you’d have to envision a blue line with him, Heiskanen, Lindell and John Klingberg sharing man-advantage time; I’m thinking of a 4/1, 3/2 forward to defenseman splits on the two units. That’s very doable, because as Sean points out, they will likely get priced out at some point from keeping all of them, and thus he’d be a very reasonable pick at this slot even if I would prefer Newhook.

Taking the speedy center looks like a good fit for the Senators. They need to upgrade the organizational depth in the middle, and Newhook’s offensive potential looks too good to pass up at this slot. Going to Tier II country isn’t new for the Senators. They went to the Alberta Junior Hockey League for their first-round pick last year, taking defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker at No. 26. It’s also interesting to note the Senators traded down to get Bernard-Docker, sending the 22nd pick to the Rangers for picks No. 26 and 48 (Jonny Tychonick). Trading this year’s top pick isn’t out of the question and it could be to go in either direction. The Senators have an extra second-round pick acquired from the Panthers (through the Sharks in the Erik Karlsson deal). If there’s a desire to make a move up this year, they have the assets to do it. – Chris Stevenson

Pronman: Newhook would be awesome value at No. 19 for Ottawa, both on organizational need and being the clear best available talent at this slot. He’d instantly vault toward the top of their depth chart.

20. New York Rangers (from Jets)
Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax-QMJHL

The Rangers, who traded away a big, skilled center in Kevin Hayes to get this pick (and Brendan Lemieux), select a similarly sized Lavoie (almost 6-foot-4, 196 pounds). With Kakko taken earlier in the first round and last year’s first-rounder Vitali Kravtsov set to arrive in the NHL, and very likely an addition (or two) in free agency, the Rangers’ forward list has quickly filled up. But having selected six defensemen in the draft in 2018, the Rangers are replenishing up front, and you can never have enough scoring. Lavoie, a right-handed shot, scored 32 goals and 72 points in 62 games for Halifax in the QMJHL this season, and a remarkable 20 goals, 32 points in 23 playoff games. – Carpinello

Pronman: Adding a top scoring talent at No. 20 will be important for the Rangers, who don’t have a ton of high-end skill types in their system right now outside Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. Lavoie brings skill, speed and goal-scoring ability to the table in a big frame.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim-DEL

The Penguins are in the rather enviable position of being able to take the best player available, given the rather sad state of their farm system. Ideally, though, they could use a promising defenseman, and Seider would be a fine addition. He’s 6-foot-4, right-handed and possesses the look of a top-four NHL defenseman who could make a major impact. This is a player with a fairly high skill level. He’s a strong skater and his style of play would seem to mesh nicely with that of the Penguins, who value offense above everything else. With that said, this is no one-trick pony, as Seider’s defensive ability is strong. Kris Letang is 32 and has a bad history of injuries. Justin Schultz only has one year remaining on his contract. The Penguins are starving for defensemen in their system and are unlikely to pass on a right-handed player with this kind of potential. – Josh Yohe

Pronman: I skeptical that Seider lasts this long, but if he does, I expect the Penguins will be very happy. The Pens’ system is as light as a feather and anything will be a fit at this point.

The faint hope was that Seider would still be there for the taking, but, there are plenty of other needs the Kings must fill, and the skilled and gifted Brink of the Sioux City Musketeers has high offensive awareness. In talking this past season with Sioux Falls defenseman Ryan Johnson, I asked him who his toughest foe was in the USHL. Johnson didn’t even hesitate to answer Brink. “He plays chess, at the speed of checkers,” added a former NHLer. The red flag could be Brink’s skating, but he was named the USHL’s forward of the year (35 goals, 33 assists in 43 games). “What he did this season in the USHL as a first-year player put him in a class above a lot of players who have gone on to have success at the highest level,” said one NHL scout. – Dillman

Pronman: A 5-foot 8, not very physical, average speed but highly skilled winger going to the Kings is a sign of the times changing, as I do believe that organization has slightly changed its preferences at the draft. After going Byram at No. 5, the Kings need skill in the organization, especially with 2018 first-rounder Gabriel Vilardi a question mark.

23. New York Islanders
Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara-OHL

Tomasino’s high-end skill and skating check a few boxes for the Islanders. He’s a center, which they desperately need more of in their organization. And he’s a playmaker, something the Isles also need. The Isles quickly locked up Brock Nelson to be their No. 2 center behind Mathew Barzal for the near term, but long term there isn’t anyone in the middle that has Tomasino’s skill set. He doesn’t turn 18 until July 28, so he’s got time to grow and improve, as well. If he’s available here, it’ll be a home run for a team that never expected to be picking so low in the first round. – Arthur Staple

Pronman: I would love Tomasino at No. 23, with the Isles getting the very last top-end center in the draft and a player who projects as a top-six forward. After going wing and defense heavy in the previous draft, getting a true top center prospect would be important for their farm system.

24. Nashville Predators
Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle-SHL

The Predators’ farm system is lacking in impact prospects, particularly at forward. Hoglander, as Pronman noted in his ranking of the top 107 prospects, “has the best hands in the draft,” and could infuse the organizational depth chart with some much-needed talent on the wings. The Predators have a good track record of drafting and developing Swedish players, so Hoglander would be a fit in that regard. Regardless of who the Predators select at No. 24, they need to hit on the pick. Their highest selection last year was in the fourth round, and their recent draft record hasn’t been particularly inspiring. – Adam Vingan

Pronman: The Predators’ farm system is light on skill and scoring punch right now, so I’m very fine with taking the player with as much skill as anyone in Hoglander. He would be my best player available at this slot.

25. Washington Capitals
Patrik Puistola, LW, Taapara-Liiga

The Capitals have focused on bolstering their defensive corps at the top of recent drafts with their previous three top selections all being blueliners, including Lucas Johansen, Tobias Geisser and Alexander Alexeyev. With young goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek already in the system, expect the Capitals to address their dearth of forward prospects. The Capitals’ hierarchy has emphasized a need for speed, but at this point of the draft, many of the top skaters who possess high-end scoring skills will likely be gone. So while Puistola isn’t the fleetest of foot, the left winger’s skill level makes him the choice here. As one of the draft’s top puck-handlers, Puistola can use his creativity with the puck and high-octane motor to create scoring chances — as well as hold his own defensively at the other end of the ice — as a potential top-six forward. – Chris Kuc

Pronman: Right about this point in the draft is where things really open up to a very wide range of options. Puistola is reasonable here, as the Caps desperately need some high-end skill in their system. This point of the draft, though, is where you no longer find speed, skill and size together, usually sacrificing one.

26. Calgary Flames
Brayden Tracey, LW, Moose Jaw-WHL

An opportunistic winger out of WHL Moose Jaw, Tracey is capable of one day bringing offensive flair to the Flames’ lineup. And he is a player currently on the rise. Central Scouting, in its mid-term rankings, had the Calgary native slotted 73rd. By season’s end? He was 21st. After a full season in midget, Tracey graduated to the WHL in 2018-19 and quickly proved his worth. The six-foot, 176-pounder ended up earning a spot on the team’s first line with Warriors veterans Justin Almeida and Tristan Langan — who would each surpass the 110-point plateau — and produced 81 points (which led all CHL freshmen). No one in the league collected more game-winning goals than Tracey’s 11. The WHL’s rookie of the year, he joined the national side for the U18 world championship in Sweden and flourished — seven points, including four goals, in seven appearances. Tracey’s defensive game could use a brushing up and his frame could stand a beefing up, all of which makes him a typical junior, albeit one with exceptional talent. – Scott Cruickshank

Pronman: Tracey came on well in the second half of the season and a late first-round pick is in play for him. Some teams will have reservations about taking a guy with his skating at this point in the draft, but I do know some NHL teams who have him rated right here.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning
Alex Vlasic, D, USNTDP-USHL

Came oh-so-close to picking Nicholas Robertson, with the 5-foot-9 dynamo forward out of the OHL boasting the kind of hockey sense, speed and compete the Lightning covet. But defenseman Vlasic is the type of prospect where I can see the Lightning going away from their CHL trend in the first round. Vlasic, a cousin of Sharks stout defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, is more than just a strong bloodline. He features a unique blend of size (6-foot-6, 198 pounds) offensive instincts and a physical edge. Would be a solid prospect to add to the blue line pipeline. Anyone who models their game after Vlasic and the Blues’ Colton Parayko would be someone worth developing further. – Joe Smith

Pronman: Joe makes a good point about Tampa’s CHL trend, but Vlasic would be the type of defenseman Tampa has looked at lately, such as Cal Foote or Dmitri Semykin, with the physical tools, skating and hockey sense to be intriguing. Their system has a real lack of top defense prospects.

28. Carolina Hurricanes
Nicholas Robertson, LW, Peterborough-OHL

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon made waves in the hockey world when he said a few months ago that the Canes wouldn’t be drafting a defenseman in the first round as long as he’s here. It really wasn’t a controversial statement at all when you consider the makeup of this team and the first-round defensemen marinating in Charlotte. Either way, I gave him a chance to word it differently after the fact: “I promise we won’t be taking defense in the first two rounds this year.” The guy means it. I think OHL winger Nicholas Robertson would be a solid pick for Carolina at this spot in the draft. He’s small (5-foot-9), but he’s got a great shot and word is he has a great work ethic. Those traits are all welcome on the new-look Hurricanes. He definitely strikes me as someone that needs a few more years of development, but that’s fine out of a late-first-rounder. – Sara Civian

Pronman: Before Sara mentioned it, I completely forgot about Dundon’s “no defensemen in the first round” comment he made earlier this season. I’m not saying Robertson isn’t a good pick at this slot, he is, I like him a lot. But if the draft played out this way, there are a lot of good defensemen available at this slot, more so than centers or wingers. Is this going to be a rule or a suggestion?

29. Anaheim Ducks (from Sharks)
Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna-WHL

There was some deliberation with this selection. Adding a high-level defense prospect into a pipeline emptied out by trades and the likely graduation of Jacob Larsson makes addressing the blue line necessary. And this is a good spot to do that after going with a forward for Anaheim’s first pick. There were three Finnish defenders I locked in on and, while Ville Heinola and Anttoni Honka were put under significant consideration, I turned to Thomson as the choice. For one, Thomson decided to come to North America early and adapt to the smaller ice surface by playing in the WHL. His big, hard shot helped him finish tied for third in goals by a WHL defenseman during his first season in the league. And he’s a right-hand shot – a coveted asset in today’s NHL. Another coveted skill is skating ability, and Thomson has plenty of that. His defense will need some work but so did Sami Vatanen at that age. – Stephens

Pronman: Thomson fits the good skating, good vision type of defenseman that the Ducks’ scouts have a great track record of drafting and fills an organizational need in their farm system. There’s a lot of teams high on Thomson right now.

30. Boston Bruins
Samuel Poulin, RW, Sherbrooke-QMJHL

The Bruins have been good at projecting the future of the league. The days when size and strength were drafting priorities are over. If the Bruins have a choice, they will lean toward prospects with high hockey sense, competitiveness and creativity. As such, Poulin checks numerous organizational boxes. The left-shot forward is the No. 22-rated North American skater per NHL Central Scouting. He has played right wing, which signals that he can process the game on his weak side. In 67 games for Sherbrooke of the QMJHL, Poulin scored 29 goals and 47 assists. – Fluto Shinzawa

Pronman: Poulin would become one of Boston’s top prospects right away in a system that doesn’t lack depth but lacks true scoring punch at the top.

31. Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis)
Ville Heinola, D, Luukko-Liiga

The Sabres used five of six picks last year on defensemen, and Jason Botterill knows you can never have too many blueliners. They’re also going to be in a spot to take whoever the best player available is, which in this case is Finnish defenseman Ville Heinola. Heinola, ranked fourth among European skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, played in Liiga for Lukko against men. The Sabres have often picked European players under Botterill because of that kind of development, and Heinola did well (14 points in 34 games). He’s smooth, he can handle the puck, and Buffalo can sort of “set it and forget it” when it comes to him playing in Finland. They may have found a gem when they took Oskari Laaksonen in 2017, and Heinola, while a bit more well known in the draft this time, can be more of the same. – Yerdon

Pronman: Heinola at No. 31 would be value for the Sabres, and while there’s been buzz of him potentially slipping on draft day, I do know there are teams that would be banging the table to trade up if this started to develop.

If you made me guess who we end up with today I’d say Zegras. There is a lot of buzz that Kirby Dach is going in the top 5 around the league. I think that was mentioned on the Custance pod that just dropped today as well.

I’m more than happy with that scenario. Nightmare for me is Turcotte, Byram and Zegras go 3,4,5.

Despite a very strong late push from Kaapo Kakko at worlds, all indications are the Devils’ preference is Hughes at this stage – even if the decision is a little tougher than it would have been a month ago.

I’ve heard a myriad of names for Chicago, between Turcotte, Bowen Byram, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Trevor Zegras. Enough people seem reasonably confident that Turcotte will be the pick that I’m slotting him here, but it is not close to a consensus among sources.

I’ve heard Colorado’s preference is to get a forward/center so they would love to get Turcotte. With that said, if Turcotte goes at No. 3, more hockey people than not think the Avalanche will take Byram as the best player available rather than go after Zegras or Dach, who are the other names rumored to be of interest to Colorado.

The names I’ve heard with the Kings are the two Western centers Dach and Dylan Cozens. I don’t think it’s a lock that Dach gets to No. 5, but there’s been very strong interest in him all season from NHL folks despite his just fine numbers because of his elite toolkit. I think if Byram doesn’t go in the top four, he lands here (sorry, Detroit fans).

I’ve heard Zegras, Dach and Vasili Podkolzin rumored to Detroit. It makes sense given Steve Yzerman’s preference for drafting skill, as well as how little hesitance he shows for drafting Russians. There was skepticism talking to sources at the combine about Zegras being Detroit’s pick, but enough people have pegged him there that I’ll go with that one.

I could see Buffalo go with Caufield or Matthew Boldy here, but Cozens is a more well-rounded player than both and would make Buffalo feel more comfortable than picking an average skater in Boldy or the 5-foot-7 player in Caufield. Cozens could play center or winger to fit multiple ways into the Sabres’ growing stockpile of young forwards.

The sense in the industry is the Oilers want immediate help, whether with the No. 8 pick or using the pick to get something. I think that rules out Podkolzin. And while Caufield seems like a player that could help the Oilers, teams are worried that, if he doesn’t truly hit, you might be waiting for him to develop for a while. Broberg will need a year or two, but he has the physical tools to move quickly to the NHL and makes sense on talent. Cozens is a possibility here, too, for that reason.

Anaheim: Peyton Krebs, C, Winnipeg-WHL

Anaheim’s been a tough team to pin down. I could see Krebs, Alex Newhook or Broberg as the pick here. I haven’t gotten the sense the Ducks are in on Caufield. The organization could use another top-level center prospect to accompany Sam Steel, and Krebs fits that bill.

If the draft plays out this way, I could see Broberg or Caufield as the pick for the Canucks. The Canucks would likely prefer to get the top defenseman, even if they just picked Quinn Hughes a year ago, but it would be hard to pass on 72 goal scorer Caufield and the ability to line him up next to a guy like Elias Pettersson.

I think Philly would love for Broberg to get to them to add a true top-tier defenseman to its farm system. If the draft plays out like this, though, it would be hard for them to pass on the elite skill Boldy has at No. 11. After the Kirill Kaprizov saga in Minnesota, I don’t know if I can see the Chuck Fletcher regime picking a player signed by SKA in Podkolzin.

Minnesota’s organization is in desperate need of a player who can score, and Kaliyev hit 50 this season. I could see Podkolzin as a player the Wild would like stylisically, but the aforementioned Kaprizov saga may test the fanbase if that was the case.

Florida: Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim-DEL

Seider moved very quickly in the past month or two, and I think he’ll go top 15 following his World Championship showing. Florida also would want to pick a defenseman to add to a very forward-heavy farm system.

This is probably toward the lowest range of where I think Podkolzin gets, I could see him anywhere from No. 6 to 14, but I don’t think Arizona would pass up a chance to add a dynamic player like him.

Montreal: Cam York, D, USNTDP-USHL

It’s been mildly expected all season that Montreal would be interested in adding a true top defense prospect if the player fit on talent. I’ve heard the Habs rumored on Ville Heinola and Victor Soderstrom for example. York had an awesome season and end to his season, and would instantly provide high-end puck-moving ability to their organization.

Colorado, as a team with two first-round picks, seems like a prime candidate to go after Knight since it lacks a goalie of the future in the pipeline. If they get Byram at No. 4 there may be a temptation to add a potential top-six forward, though, in a guy like Newhook, Ryan Suzuki or Philip Tomasino.

It would have been tempting to slot Ryan Suzuki to Vegas, giving them the pleasure of drafting both brothers. But Newhook seems to have risen ahead of Suzuki, and provides some of the same dynamic playmaking and IQ Vegas values with a more well-rounded game.

Dallas: Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas-SHL

Dallas would like to add a defenseman in this draft if the fit is there, and I’ve heard them rumored to be high on guys like Soderstrom and York. Dallas has done well finding defenseman outside the first round, but its system could really use a player like Soderstrom.

Ottawa: Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie-OHL

The center depth in Ottawa is not terrible but not the best, and while the Senators have Logan Brown, Suzuki would instantly increase the amount of skill they have at the position significantly. I think this would be Newhook’s floor, as well.

New York Rangers: Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara-OHL

The Rangers have had a lot of picks lately so the only true pressing “need” is a top-flight defense prospect, but none will be left at this stage. Tomasino is the best player available and would instantly provide a ton of speed and skill to their system. I think they would like Suzuki, as well.

Pittsburgh: Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax-QMJHL

The Penguins’ system needs everything, and with a rare first-round pick, they have a chance to add legit NHL talent to their pipeline. Lavoie would add a combination of size, skill and skating they haven’t had in a long time. I could see this as a spot for Thomas Harley, too.

Los Angeles: Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga-OHL

If the Kings get a center at pick No. 5, that would make all five of their first and second-round picks in the past three years centers. That creates a bit of an imbalance in the system and on the big team. Harley is a very good player to get at No. 22 based on talent, and I could see him as a fit for the Kings in terms of what they value.

The Islanders are never ones to shy away from swinging at skill, and Brink is full of it. He’s a longer-term bet due to needing to clean up his skating, but he, Nils Hoglander or Nicholas Robertson would add a dynamic scoring element that they covet. I think they’d prefer to beef up their center depth, but the draft gets very thin at center at this point of the first round.

Nashville: Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle-SHL

The Predators’ system is light at the moment and could really use high-end skill, which Hoglander provides in bunches. Ideally, they’d like a top center prospect, but as mentioned before, there’s not many left at this point unless you start discussing low upside types like John Beecher.

Washington: Nicholas Robertson, LW, Peterborough-OHL

The Caps have gone heavy on defensemen and goalies at the draft of late and could really use some scoring in their system. Robertson, Hoglander or Brink around this slot would make a ton of sense.

Calgary: Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton-QMJHL

While the Flames used their 2018 draft to pick all forwards, their system could still use a bit more scoring depth, and Pelletier nearly scored 40 this season. I could see Egor Afanasyev as a pick here too.

Tampa Bay: Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna-WHL

The Bolts haven’t used a high pick on a true puck-moving defenseman in quite a few years. I could see Thomson, Ryan Johnson or Heinola fitting the bill. Thomson would provide a lot of what they value in terms of skating, skill and hockey sense.

Carolina: Patrik Puistola, LW, Taapara-Liiga

Tom Dundon announced to the world the Canes are going forward and I don’t expect he’s a man who is saying that to play three-dimensional chess. If the Canes want skill, Puistola is the most skilled player left at this point.

Anaheim: Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls-USHL

Johnson really came on in the last month or so of the season, and some NHL folks think this is a low slotting for him in the first round. The Ducks love mobile puck-moving defensemen, and Johnnson or Thomson would be a fit at this slot for an organization that’s lost a few of this type of player in recent years.

Buffalo: Ville Heinola, D, Luukko-Liiga

This is likely way too low a slotting for Heinola based on industry buzz, as he is seen as more of a consensus top 20 than top 30, but sometimes the draft plays out that way. The Sabres don’t have many defensemen in the system who play the way Heinola does with his high-end vision and ability to transition the offense.

Boston: Alex Vlasic, D, USNTDP-USHL

Boston typically likes players with high-end athletic tools, and Vlasic is that in bunches as a 6-foot-6 defenseman who is an off the charts good skater for a man his size and whose stock trended up in the second half of the season.

Pronman's draft rankings, top 50 (very long). I like how he explains the tiers.

Also for whatever reason the number ranking next to each kid's name would not copy over. There is no way I am manually adding that for you buttholes.

Pronman’s 2019 NHL Draft Board: Top 107 prospects

By Corey Pronman May 21, 2019 250
Updated: June 10

The 2019 NHL Draft is an above-average draft class given there are so many forwards and particularly centers at the top, which have less projection risk than defensemen. The top tier has two fantastic prospects who could be true impact players in the NHL. The strength of this year’s USNTDP team is evident, with four players from that team appearing in the top six, and five in the top 10.

Last season I introduced the tiering system I used in my draft rankings and farm system rankings. I split players up into these tiers:

Special prospect: Projects to be one of the very best players in the league at their position.
Elite prospect: Projects to be top 10-15 percent of the league at their position.
High-end prospect: Projects as a top-line forward who can play on your PP1/top pairing defenseman. This is an upper half of the first round quality prospect.
Very good prospect: Projects as a top-six forward/top-four defenseman/starting goaltender. A prospect I would endorse using a first-round pick on.
Legit NHL prospect: Projects to be a regular player in the league, likely in a bottom half of the roster role. A prospect who I would endorse using a second-round pick on.
Has a chance: Has a chance to be a regular NHL player, if something about their game changes substantially. This is a prospect I would endorse selecting in the second half of the draft. This tier could theoretically extend the list to 150-plus players, but I cut it off at the point where I lost excitement in the available players as NHL prospects.
These tiers will be used again, but with a small change. Any glance at a draft pick value chart will reveal there are rarely steep drops outside of the very top of the draft, which a strict tiering system could convey. It is a continuum. In that spirit, I am introducing what I will call “bubble tiers” to show that a player is in between two tiers.

Careful observers will note this year’s list is longer than last year’s, and the tiers at the top are slightly larger. I would not read much into that, other than me slightly loosening the standards on the tiers in a mild change of my process.

I will grade tools on the 20-80 scale. In this scale, 50 projects as pro average, 55 as above-average, 60 top third, 70 as elite and 80 as among the very best, 45 is below-average and 40 is fringe pro quality. I will have grades on skating, puck skills, physicality and hockey sense for every player. I will grade their shot if it is notably good or poor.

Talent typically wins out in my rankings. Skill and hockey sense are the attributes I value the most. I think skating is slightly more important for forwards, and physicality more important for defenders. For tiebreaking, I tend to prefer forwards to defensemen, and centers to wingers. I also value success in pro leagues as a tiebreaker.

These rankings are based on thousands of hours of research from the past two years, spanning many trips to rinks across the hockey world, from Bonnyville, Alberta, to Fort St. John, British Columbia, to Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. It is also based on a ton of video work, analyzing player’s production, and discussions with scouts, coaches and executives. While I seek input from many sources, these are solely my opinions and will deviate from NHL sources, even significantly in some instances. This is not a projection of what will happen on draft weekend.

We hope you enjoy this feature, and that it helps your understanding of the upcoming NHL Draft class.

Jack Hughes is one of the best USA prospects to be a first-year, draft-eligible prospect and could be the first USNTDP player to make the direct jump to the NHL. What makes Hughes a top prospect isn’t his skill level, but his pace. He’s a unique skater who is so tough when he gets going with speed. Defenses can see it coming, and they still can’t stop it. His speed is dangerous but particularly his edge work is special. He spins off pressure so well and can create space for himself like few others with his cutbacks. He’s got a high skill level and fantastic vision with the puck, and at a standstill, he can make highly skilled plays. But what makes Hughes stand out from your typical playmaker is how he makes those plays at a million miles an hour. He’ll put pucks through legs while skating full speed and hit a target across the ice. He has a small, slight frame, and plays hard, which can lead to him getting knocked around a bit. His compete level is high, though. When he loses a puck, he wants the puck as bad as anyone on the ice, and he attacks the net without fear. He has the potential to be a star, play-driving, No. 1 center.

USNTDP U18 coach John Wroblewski on Hughes: “The electricity when he hits the ice, it’s undeniable. It’s controlled chaos. He is top speed, flying around the sheet. Only he and a couple other guys know what’s happening.”

Kakko had a fantastic season in Finland, playing significant minutes in the country’s top league and showing flashes of dominance versus men in Liiga and at the World Championships. Kakko has a ton of skill in his game. He’s got the high-end hands to make plays through defenders and the cute dangles that will make highlight reels. Kakko can make the real tough passes and makes a lot of great decisions, but his creativity is what impressed me most. He improvises very well, with the high offensive IQ to know how to create offense versus men. Kakko has good size, and he’s not afraid to lean on guys. He’s not a crash and bang type, but he protects pucks very well, he takes pucks hard to the net and he already showed that he can power his way past pro defensemen as a 17-year-old. His speed is just average for me. He’s not slow, but his skating is not the selling point of his game. Despite average speed, he gets inside to the net so well because of how fearless and strong he is. Kakko could be an impact forward in the NHL, whether at the wing and possibly even at center, and should transition quickly into that role.

TPS manager Antero Niittymaki on Kakko: “His stick handling and overall skill level is one of the best I’ve ever seen at his age. We put him on the top line early in the year, and even though he was this young, skinny guy, you could see right away he’s strong with the puck in the corners. He’s really balanced on his skates. It’s tough to knock him off the puck. Since the world juniors, he was dominant in regards to (his physical play). He can hang onto the puck as long as he wants. He’s NHL ready.”

Turcotte had a tough season, missing time due to injury and contracting mononucleosis late in the season. When healthy, though, he was awesome and a dominant center at the USHL level. He’s a well-rounded prospect without any clear weakness in his game and a lot of high-end elements. He’s a great skater with a clean stride and can barrel down the wing with speed. Turcotte’s speed is good, not overwhelming, but he’s got a fantastic first step and a great overall pace to his game. He combines that pace with very good hands and vision, showing how versatile a threat he can be. He can make creative plays off the flank and sees his options well. It’s not just his speed and skill that stand out, but his compete level is elite. Turcotte is the kind of forward who can dangle around defensemen, blow by them or drive his way through them. He gets to the net, consistently and without fear. He battles for pucks as hard as anyone and typically wins them, even at 5-foot-11. He’s not the biggest center, but that is really the only criticism I can find of his game. Turcotte has been a top prospect for many years and this season he showed exactly why he’s been so touted.

USNTDP U18 coach John Wroblewski on Turcotte: “Sandpaper and silk. He’s the perfect blend of speed, skill and power. He’s kind of a Brad Marchand type who plays center. He’s got that 1-on-1 ability, he’s got a great shot in tight, unbelievable vision and he plays with an edge. His game is predicated on him driving the puck to the net and putting the opposition on their heels. His bravery combined with his speed makes him the player that he is.”

Byram is my top ranked defenseman in this draft class. He was often asked to play 30 minutes a game for the Giants, showing immense offensive potential, including leading the WHL playoffs in scoring. Byram is a high-end skater with the ability to lead a rush and close gaps. He’s got quick-twitch feet and a great first step. He’s very active with his skating, as I often see him join rushes and lead ones, and he can activate well off the blueline. He’s very skilled. I don’t think he’s truly tapped into how good offensively he can be despite his great numbers. He’s got fantastic puck skills. I’ve watched him in practice manipulate the puck at an elite level. While he makes plenty of skilled plays, I think his individual creativity has another level than he’s shown. I didn’t see him consistently make high-end passes through seams at the offensive blueline. He has that in his game, but at times he relies on his skating and shot. He’s a very patient and poised player who sees the game develop and has great outlets, which is why I give his IQ a 60 grade. Byram has an accurate shot and scored quite a few difficult goals from a distance this season. Defensively he’s solid with good gaps, awareness and compete level, plus some physical edge; but it’s how often the team has the puck when he’s on the ice that makes him so good.

Vancouver Giants coach Michael Dyck on Byram: “His ability to jump away from checks is elite. He’s got a great first four steps. He moves well laterally across the blue line. He can defend speed off the rush. His puck skills are elite. He can move the puck and has a great sense to find the open man and playing fast.”

Caufield scored 72 goals this past season. That wasn’t a typo. He’s one of the best goal-scorers to become eligible for the draft in recent years. Caufield’s shot is special. There’s plenty of snipers out there, but Caufield’s wrist shot technique is like a slingshot. He gets control of the puck and fires it a million miles an hour on target. He’s not going to pick a corner every shot, but his finishing rate is very good and he scored some of the most amazing goals I saw all season at any level. He’s got a good one-timer/slap shot, but it’s his wrist shot that is special. He’s more than a shot, as in most games Caufield would have four-plus scoring chances. Part of that was due to having Hughes as his linemate, but mostly it was due to Caufield’s skill set. His puck skills are fantastic. Every touch he makes is smooth. He can make the 1-on-1 plays versus defenders, but he has such quick, crisp touches that it allows him to get so many clean shots. His offensive timing is excellent, and he reads how plays develop very well. He’s got great vision, with the ability to make plays in open ice and off the rush. He’s not as great a skater as you’d hope for 5-foot-7, but he’s an above-average speedster who can flash a tier above. His size is his main drawback, but Caufield competes well and attacks the net to score goals. There are ways to pick apart his game. I’ve done it plenty watching him the past two years, but at the end of the day, he scored 72 goals. It’s a lot of goals.

USNTDP U18 coach John Wroblewski on Caufield: “I’ve never seen purer hands coming through the NTDP. When he catches a puck, it lays flat. Every pass or shot explodes off his stick. It’s not the flashy dangles, it’s pure, it’s clean. His shot is so accurate. He hits so many crossbars and elbows in practice, it’s insane.”

Zegras was fantastic all season for the USNTDP and was a go-to guy for the program when they needed a goal. In terms of pure offensive skill, he’s the best in the draft class. He’s a special playmaker and one of the best passers I’ve seen as a first-year draft-eligible in recent years. It’s not just that he sees the options, it’s also the fact his timing is elite in terms of when to execute plays, and he has the high-end skill to feather pucks into the right spots. His imagination gets the highest praise from me. He’s made some very creative one-touch plays where he’s knocking pucks that were behind him onto the sticks of teammates or firing a bullet pass while spinning with the puck on his backhand. He’s known as a playmaker but has a sneaky good shot and can pick a corner if you give him time. Zegras has fine speed, very good edge work and hands to evade checks. He can push the pace when he wants to, but for a small, slight forward, he slows it down a bit too much for me. He’s not the biggest or bulkiest pivot and has at times played wing this season, but he’s gotten steadily better in the physical parts of the game and will push back when opponents get physical with him. Zegras isn’t a guy who you pick to run over guys, though; you’re drafting him to slot onto the half-wall of your first power play and get the puck to the scorers on his wing for a decade.

USNTDP center Jack Hughes on Zegras: “He’s the most creative player on our team. He thinks outside the box, he’s really smart and super crafty with his hands and movements. He’s really slippery. He’s an easy guy to play with knowing he’ll always give you great passes.”

Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge-WHL
Feb. 9, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 185 pounds

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 65
Hockey Sense: 60

Cozens is a very well-rounded prospect. For the past two seasons in the WHL and in international play, he consistently impressed. Cozens measures in at 6-foot-3 and is a very good skater, not just for his size, but overall. That combination alone makes him a handful to deal with when a guy that size comes barreling through the neutral zone. He doesn’t just skate fast, he consistently pushes the pace and plays the game hard. Cozens is not going to do a fancy between the legs kind of play, but he gets by defenders with dekes at full speed, makes skilled plays to the net and can make plays in small areas. He’s not a dynamic playmaker, but he’ll have the odd play that will hit that level and his vision can surprise defenders. He has a shoot-first mentality and, for Lethbridge, would often be the team’s shot off the flank on the man advantage. Cozens can be deployed in any situation and competes hard every shift with a bit of an edge to his game without taking a ton of penalties.

Lethbridge Hurricanes coach Brent Kisio on Cozens: “He’s a difference maker. He’s very fast and utilizes his speed very well. His playmaking abilities are exceptional. He’s a reliable two-way player.”

Boldy didn’t join the USNTDP as a top prospect, in fact, he was on the bubble to make the team. A sudden growth spurt combined with a great skill level spiked his prospect stock. Boldy is a unique winger in how he plays the game. His combination of puck skills and hockey IQ are among the best in the draft. His hand-eye coordination is off the charts. Pucks stick to him. He’s also incredibly creative and made some of the best passes I saw all season. I wouldn’t call him a natural playmaker, though; he prefers to play below the dots and around the net rather than QB a power play. While he’s a great passer, Boldy has a quality shot and was often used as a trigger guy from the slot. Boldy’s consistency was an issue this season. When competing hard, he’s often catching unsuspecting players on the backcheck and gets to the net to score. However, he had stretches this season where he didn’t impact games, and sometimes they were long stretches. His main weakness over the years was his skating. I think it’s improved to an average level, but he’s not a powerful skater and his stride could be cleaned up.

USNTDP U18 coach John Wroblewski on Boldy: “Boldy grew from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-2. His development trajectory has been steep. He can be a power forward. He has excellent hands and vision. He can finish, he can run a power play, he can be a net-front guy. The puck is attached to him.”

Broberg exploded onto the scene this season with a great Hlinka Gretzky tournament. He had good stretches in the Allsvenskan, some so-so stretches that coincided with an illness and he finished off strong at the U18s. His value comes from his athleticism. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who is an elite skater. That combination alone is scary. There are some rushes he’s made this season where the opposition didn’t even have a chance to get a stick on the puck because he needs a few steps and he’s blazing by guys. However, I found in league games he was hesitant to push the pace versus men like he did versus his peers. He has that ability and it may be a maturation thing. Broberg is divisive due to his offensive upside. I think there is some offense to his game. He executes give-and-goes in a clever way to make the most of his skating, he moves the puck decent on the power play, and he flashes both good handling and distributing skills. He can be careless with the puck too, and often I’ve seen him make terrible turnovers, but I’ve also seen a few high-level plays with the puck. If you’re expecting more, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a two-way defenseman with size who can close a gap, man a second power play and transition the offense at even strength at a high level, he’s your man.

AIK manager Anders Gozzi on Broberg: “Broberg has enormous potential and will play in the NHL in the near future. He is one of the best defenders we have gotten in AIK throughout the years due to his skating and skill level.”

Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon-WHL
Jan. 21, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 198 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 60
Hockey Sense: 60

When you think of what teams are looking for in a No. 1 center, it looks a lot like Dach. He’s a right-shot centerman who measures in around 6-foot-4, with a lot of skill and offensive IQ, and plays heavy minutes. He makes high-end plays to his teammates and through defenders with consistency. His vision particularly stands out. He has great patience, finds guys in traffic and makes tough passes when you least expect it. He’s a prototypical power play QB and plays a 5-foot-10 skill game in a big man’s body. Dach showed that he can play all situations. He’s not the most physical big man, but he’s reliable defensively and often played more than 20 minutes a night for Saskatoon in tough matchups. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he showed he could be a net-front guy on the power play. Dach has good speed. His feet don’t match his skill and his first step could be a bit better, but overall he’s the total package and a player who projects to be a front-line center in the NHL. His consistency is the only issue I have. With his toolkit, he should have dominated the WHL, but he only did that in stretches with a midseason lull, though he ended his season strong.

Saskatoon Blades coach Mitch Love on Dach: “He’s a student of the game. He’s got a very high hockey IQ. His playmaking ability is second to none. There aren’t many 6-foot-4, 200 pound, 17-year-old players who can play center the way he can.”

Alex Newhook, C, Victoria-BCHL
Jan. 28, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 190 pounds

Skating: 65
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 40
Hockey Sense: 65

Newhook was fantastic in the BCHL for the past two seasons, as one of the most dominant Jr. A players of the modern era. He’s one of the most entertaining and dynamic players in the draft. His skating, hands and vision all get plus grades. He can push the pace with his speed. He’s got quick-twitch feet at full speed, which allows him to jet by defenders, and great edge work to create space in tight areas. He’s often asked to carry the puck up the ice, and he does so very well. Newhook makes plays at full speed, often blowing by defenders, while also being able to pull up and make a play at pace. I’ve seen him make some very creative passes where he hits a tight lane with little time or hitting a man on the tape while he’s going 100 miles an hour. He’s also very skilled, and often makes tough plays to lose a defender and create space. Newhook isn’t just a skill guy, he competes well too, which combined with his great speed allows him to always be around the puck. I don’t know if he’ll be a true defensive center in the NHL due to his size and I wouldn’t call him overly physical, but I like that he battles. The one knock on Newhook is, at the levels with higher pace than the BCHL such as the World Jr. A or Hlinka U18 camp where he was cut, he wasn’t dominant; but he was great at the IIHF U18 tournament.

Victoria Grizzlies GM/coach Craig Didmon on Newhook: “He has great endurance, he doesn’t tire and wears his opponents down. He can attack in a variety of ways. He has great speed, a great shot on the fly and sees the ice very well. He can play 200 feet.”

Podkolzin played a lot of hockey this season between multiple levels of junior, pro and international hockey, and impressed almost every single time. He almost always seems to have an impact on a game. He’s super talented but also an elite competitor. Podkolzin can make the flashy plays to deke defenders, but he rarely does that off a standstill or along the walls. He has hard skill. Podkolzin is typically full speed ahead to the net; and if he needs to go around or through you, he will. He’s also a very good playmaker and finisher who can take advantage of space if defenders make off him by making a pass or sniping from a distance. Quite often he made passes this season that were elite, but he didn’t rack up that many assists. The one thing that bugs me about him is his skating. His stride is a little awkward and inefficient, he’s hunched over, kicks his heels out, but he generates decent speed and hustles so hard that any technical flaw isn’t that exposed. He has two years left on his KHL contract with SKA and told The Athletic he intends to see that contract out.

Russian U18 coach Vladimir Filatov on Podkolzin: “He’s the heart of a team. He always wants to set an example on and off the ice. He’s maybe not the most elite skill player or an elite sniper, but he’s a leader, he runs the game. His game is always about controlling the puck, pushing the play forward and putting everything on the net.”

Kaliyev lit up the OHL this season, as one of the few modern-day OHL players to score 50 goals as a 17-year-old. He’s one of the best goal-scorers in the CHL and often had more than 10 shot attempts in a game. He’s not going to go bar down that often, but his shot is an absolute rocket, and if goalies are not in position, they won’t have time to adjust once he lets it go. Kaliyev is also a very good playmaker who makes high-end plays. Those 50 goals were complemented with 50 assists. Due to his shot and vision, he’s an absolute weapon on the man advantage who can run a unit and pick apart defenses. He’s skilled but Kaliyev isn’t a player who can go end-to-end. He skates OK, but the main criticism of his game is his pace and compete. Kaliyev can often look like he’s not going that hard and will have long stretches of indifference. With that said, even in the many games where he looks like he’s doing nothing, you’ll check the box score and see one goal and two points. Thus the question is whether his style of play will translate to the NHL pace. He’s one of the most divisive prospects in this year’s draft.

Vince Laise, the acting coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs, on Kaliyev: “Arthur is one of the most dynamic players I’ve coached in the OHL in my six years here. I coached Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. In my opinion, Arthur is just as good a player as either of those two. Arthur has the ability to find the back of the net just as those two did at the same age. They differ in play styles, but all achieve what NHL organizations look for. Arthur is more than just a power play producer, his underlying value is his ability to produce at even strength and his playmaking. He’s been as coachable as they come and a pleasure to work with.”

Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay-WHL
Jan. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 45
Hockey Sense: 65

Krebs was in a tough situation on a rebuilding Kootenay team this season, but he was everything that team could have hoped for. He was an all-situations center, a 17-year-old captain and a consistent offensive threat. Krebs has a giddy-up in his step, as he skates quite well, and has so much energy to his game. He’s always on the move, be it winding up in his defensive zone or hunting down pucks. Some scouts feel his feet are high end. I see more just good, but I see the argument for his overall pace. Krebs is also a fantastic playmaker and one of the best passers in the draft. He’s always looking to make a play and has some of the most creative plays I’ve seen this season. His seam pass completion rate is very high. Krebs is also a competitive defensive forward who can kill penalties and be trusted to do so in the pros. He has some push back in his game and isn’t afraid to mix it up. Some scouts said he’s a high-end skill guy. I haven’t seen that; rather I see a skilled player who looks to use his teammates more than do it all himself. He’s a play-driving center who can be used in any situation and that’s very valuable.

Winnipeg ICE coach James Patrick on Krebs: “He’s a very mature kid. He does everything possible off ice to make himself better. He goes full out effort all the time on the ice. He’s skilled, he can skate, he can make so many plays. I expect him to be an explosive top-six forward in the NHL.”

Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie-OHL
May 28, 2001 | six-foot | 172 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 45
Hockey Sense: 65

Suzuki, the younger brother of Montreal prospect Nick Suzuki, has been a top playmaker in the OHL since being drafted first-overall in 2017. His vision is outstanding, with the ability to wait out lanes and hit passes through seams at a very high rate. He’s skilled with flashes of plus hands, and he can navigate in tight spaces. He doesn’t have as good a shot as his brother, but he’s a better skater with a bit of a separation gear to gain the zone and create space for his playmaking. Ryan Suzuki’s criticism among scouts is his lack of physicality, especially as a smaller/slighter forward. However, he will get to the middle of the ice to make a play. I like how he defends due to how smart he is, and he can kill penalties at the amateur level. Some will look at his production this season (25 goals-75 points in 65 games) and not be wowed, but he didn’t play on a good team. It’s fair to say he hasn’t been as dominant as he could be with his talent level, but he’s a good player and projects to be a top-six center.

Barrie Colts coach Dale Hawerchuk on Suzuki: “He has real strong hockey sense. He handles the puck well, he sees it well. He’s got all the tools it takes to be a good NHLer.”

Cam York, D, USNTDP-USHL
Jan. 5, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 176 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 40
Hockey Sense: 60

York was the No. 1 defenseman on the NTDP this past season, the main power play QB for most of the season and had one of the most productive statistical careers ever by an NTDP defender. York’s hockey sense is what makes him so valuable. His poise with the puck is fantastic. He’s never pressured into bad decisions and exhibits great vision. His teammates constantly praise what a calming influence he is when he has the puck. York has a high skill level but often does not lean on his stick handling, preferring to make a play to his forwards. York skates well. He lacks a dynamic top gear you’d like in a small defenseman, but he can skate pucks out of trouble or into the offensive zone. He defends well due to his feet and great brain, but it will be interesting to see how that translates versus men, as I wouldn’t call him a top-tier defender.

USNTDP center Jack Hughes on York: “He’s such a smart player, so steady and never in the wrong position. He moves the puck quick. His first pass is always on the tape. He can skate the puck up and shoot it. He’s a real good defender, too.”

Tomasino is a very talented forward who started the season down the lineup but worked his way into a decent role on a top OHL team. He’s got all the tools to succeed in the modern day NHL. He’s a very fast skater with high-end puck skills and the vision to make difficult plays. His pace is good but I wish he used his high-end speed a bit more. Tomasino is a threat off the rush due to how quickly his feet and hands move, and when you think of “playing fast,” he’s a guy who is built to do that. He looks to make plays, often finding tight lanes, and he has the creativity to make unique passes. Tomasino has a slight build and isn’t the best at winning 1-on-1 battles in the tough areas. He can at times get pushed around and out of the game, and other times he’ll drive the tough areas. He’ll need to work on the consistency of his play and making the most of his tools, but he’s got the ability to impact a shift like few in this class do.

Niagara IceDogs coach Billy Burke on Tomasino: “His speed and his skating stand out. He’s fast from the start of his shift to the end of his shift. He’s able to find his teammates and make plays while he’s going fast. He’s developing into a dynamic playmaker.

Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle-SHL
Dec. 20, 2000 | 5-foot-9 | 185 pounds

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 70
Physical Game: 35
Hockey Sense: 60

Hoglander had a quality first season in the SHL as a top-nine forward for Rogle who showed his high-skill game can translate versus men. Hoglander has the best hands in the draft. When he has the puck on his stick, he’s trying to make a skilled play. His puck handling is lightning quick and he often leaves defenders in a knot with how he dangles while in stride. He’s not a selfish dangler, though, as he’s a great passer and looks for his teammates constantly. He’s not a typical playmaker you see run a power play and hang around the half-wall hitting seam passes. He’s always in motion and makes creative feeds. Hoglander isn’t the biggest forward at 5-foot-9, but he plays with a lot of energy and engages well. He’s got a bit of an edge to his game, too. He’s a decent skater, more elusive than a burner with very good edges, but he can turn a corner when he needs to. I wish he had more of a dangerous top gear because versus men he got eliminated along walls quite often on zone entries.

Rogle manager Chris Abbott on Hoglander: “His skill is high-end, his small area play is high-end. He’s hard, strong, he fends off pressure very well. We have the puck when he’s on the ice.”

I saw Puistola two years ago at the U17s in British Columbia and was very impressed by his skill, identifying him as a possible second/third-round prospect. Since then he’s continued to do nothing but impress at the junior and pro levels. He’s one of the best puck handlers in the draft. As a 17-year-old he made pro defenders look foolish, and he has the high level of creativity to try to make tough plays every game. He’s a good passer, but I wouldn’t call him the type who tries to find seams off the flank. Rather he relies on his creativity to find options the defense isn’t expecting and plays well in small spaces. Puistola has a good shot, too; but despite his high goal totals this season, I wouldn’t call him a sniper. He created goals with his skill and compete level. He got to the net and showed he can be a decent penalty killer. My main issue with his game is his skating. It’s not bad and he has some speed, but his stride is inefficient and can break down at times.

NHL scout on Puistola: “He’s highly skilled. He competes hard and isn’t afraid to get inside. He’s not slow, but there is a lack of quickness in his game.”

Harley’s development curve spiked this season. One of the youngest players in the draft, Harley progressed from a decent prospect to a 25-30 minutes a night defenseman with impressive tools for the Steelheads. When he was on the ice, his team had control of the puck. He’s big, mobile, skilled and smart. That combination is attractive. Harley skates with the quickest forwards in the OHL due to the strength of his stride and his wingspan. He can jump up into the attack. He’s good with the puck, showing some creativity and good vision, at times very good. Defensively he’s a bit of a work in progress. His feet and stick allow him to make stops and close gaps, but he needs to bulk up a lot and be better at times in his own end. Harley makes a lot of plays but tends to get too cute and make costly turnovers. Some scouts argue that was just the byproduct of the massive and arguably excessive minutes he played.

Mississauga Steelheads GM/coach James Richmond on Harley: “He’s an above-average skater. He moves extremely well for a big guy. He’s a modern NHL type of defenseman. He can get the puck up quickly. He jumps up into the rush very well. He handles the puck well and is confident with the puck. He defends extremely well, especially for such an offensive player.”

Lavoie’s a talented player who had a good season but didn’t play as well as expected before tearing it up in the QMJHL playoffs. The pure tools scream first-round pick. He’s 6-foot-4, skates well for a big man and has a high skill level. There are times when you see him come down the wing, power his way to the net or make a skilled play to create a chance and you think that translates to an NHL scorer. He flashes high-end puck skills but it hasn’t been consistent. He’s got a hard shot and scored quite a few goals this season from long distance. As a late 2000 birth date on a good QMJHL team, his production (32 goals-73 points in 62 games) was mediocre for a projected top talent. This reflects a consistency problem in his game at times, as well as the fact that scouts aren’t the biggest fans of his decision-making. I’ve seen good vision from him, and thus give him a 55 on his sense, but it’s with hesitation as I’ve seen many instances where he throws pucks away or forces plays that aren’t there He has some physicality, he defends fine and his coach this season trusted him with PK responsibilities. He has a ton of potential and ended his season with several exclamation marks.

Halifax Mooseheads coach Eric Veilleux on Lavoie: “He’s got an NHL shot. His speed is deceiving, he’s a good skater. For as skilled as he is, he can play well defensively, too.”

Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim-DEL
April 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 198 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 50
Physical Game: 65
Hockey Sense: 55

Seider played all season in the top German pro league and was impressive in the World Championships for a U18 player. He looked good for a 17-year-old but never stood out versus men until the end of the season. At the IIHF U20 B pool, though, we saw the best of Seider. He was the best defenseman in the tournament as a double underage player. He’s got great athletic tools as a 6-foot-4 defenseman who skates well. He uses his feet to join attacks often and can make plays at speed. Seider’s main criticism from scouts is his lack of standout puck skill and that he won’t be a true power play guy in the NHL. With that said, he has decent touch and makes plays. He moves the puck well, showing great poise and instincts. Defensively he’s a rock with his wingspan, feet and defensive acumen, and projects as a tough minutes player in the NHL. He is one of the best German prospects in recent memory.

Germany U20 coach Christian Kunast on Seider: “The most impressive thing about Moritz is that he competes every shift – when he steps on the ice he wants to win. He sees the game very well and that makes him special. He’s also a very good skater.”

Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City-USHL
July 8, 2001 | 5-foot-8 | 163 pounds

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 25
Hockey Sense: 65

Brink was the best player in the USHL this season and a driving force for whatever line he was on. Brink is an interesting player in that he doesn’t look the part of a top prospect. He’s listed at 5-foot-8, he skates awkward, and he doesn’t look all that smooth and coordinated. His hockey sense is just fantastic, though. He’s an elite passer with the patience, anticipation and overall vision to make unique passes seem routine. I’ve seen him hover around the zone, waiting out options as defenses scramble to figure out what play he’s going to make. Brink has very impressive hands and a good shot, too, but what will get him to the pros is his ability to make plays. He competes and even killed penalties at the junior level. What may hold him back is his skating. He moves with a weird stutter in his stride, and his feet flail. His top speed is fine due in part to his size, and he’s got good power on his edges to allow him to maneuver around the ice. But he lacks any kind of explosiveness you want in a player that size.

Sioux City Musketeers assistant GM Andy Johnson on Brink: “Bobby is a cerebral winger who makes up for an average skating stride with incredible awareness, anticipation and overall elite hockey sense. He has great all-around skill with the puck. He can dish and score, and is one of the most competitive players I’ve seen in my time in the USHL.”

Vlasic entered the NTDP with a lot of hype. He’s a unique player in that he’s 6-foot-6 and has offensive potential, which makes him very intriguing. I like his hockey sense. There are times I even really like it. He understands how to attack, how to move pucks, when to jump into lanes and how to use his long wingspan to break up plays. I’ve seen several occasions where he does a give-and-go off the blueline with his D partner where he pinches after his pass and receives it for a scoring chance. You don’t often see a big man make that play or make a high-end pass through a seam. That is Vlasic at his best, creative puck-mover with solid defense who uses his size to lean on his checks. However, that player doesn’t always show up. Vlasic will have moments where he’s a turnover machine and shows underwhelming puck skills under pressure. He skates quite well for a big man, but there are moments where his game lacks pace. Some evaluators not only believe in him as an NHLer but believe he could be an impact NHLer. Others see the warts and are scared off. I’ve seen the potential, but there’s a ways to go for him before he’s there.

USNTDP U18 coach John Wroblewski on Vlasic: “He’s a massive individual with an unbelievable defensive stick to break up plays. He’s got a physical edge. He can play an offensive style and takes chances. For a big man, his skating is off the charts good; it’s very fluid.”

Robertson impressed all season, from the Hlinka Gretzky through his play in the OHL. He’s a dynamic player. His scoring stats may not jump off the page, but he’s one of the youngest players in the draft and generated a lot of shots. Robertson’s skill level is very high. He often makes highlight reel plays, making creative plays through legs and finding a way to create a chance out of nothing. Robertson can make the creative dekes, but he’s also a very good passer and shooter. His passes are often flashy, but he can try to do too much at times with his playmaking and turns pucks over. His shot is one of the best in the draft. He can snipe pucks off the crossbar and has often beat goalies from a distance. He could use an extra gear in his feet for such a smaller player with a hunched-over stride. Off the puck he’s OK. He’s no penalty killer, but he competes fine. He leans on his shot a bit too much, and I’d like to see him get between the dots more.

Peterborough Petes GM Michael Oke on Robertson: “Nick is a highly skilled player with a tremendous level of compete. He works extremely hard in all three zones. He is extremely focused and everything he does is based on becoming a better player.”

Mastrosimone had a fantastic 16-year-old season in the USHL, following it up with a good 17-year-old season as one of the best wingers in the USHL and a great postseason. He also performed well in international events. I love his skill level and hockey sense. When Mastrosimone has the puck, he’s looking to make a play. He always had the high-level creativity and offensive instincts, and as the season went along his playmaking developed into a real weapon. He can set up his teammates, but he also has a hard, accurate shot and can score from a distance. He’s small but competes well and gives it his all each shift. His main issue is his skating. For a small player, he lacks a true separation gear, and his technique isn’t the best. He flashes average speed but not consistently. His production may not have been fantastic for a U18 in the USHL, but I’m a big believer in the skill level.

Chicago Steel coach Greg Moore on Mastrosimone: “He’s got a great compete level. He empties the tank every night. He has a knack for creating. He also has an unbelievable shot.”

Soderstrom started the season in junior but quickly moved up to the SHL level, logging significant minutes and getting power play time as a 17-year-old. Soderstrom is a great puck mover, showing high-end IQ moving the puck and ice in his veins under pressure. Sometimes he’s a little too calm, letting guys close in on him and trying to be too cute, but typically he’s efficient on zone exits. He’s smooth with the puck, but has very quick hands, and is able to make plays through defenders from a standstill and off the rush. There were several times this season his game popped with a wow-caliber skill play. For a smaller guy, his game could have more speed. His skating looks fine when he winds up and get going, but he lacks explosiveness and doesn’t have a ton of pace in his game. Despite his size, he’s a good defender. He closes gaps very well due to his IQ, using his body and stick to break up pucks, and makes a lot of stops.

Heinola trended up quickly from a fine prospect to an almost lock to be drafted high this season. He was called up to his club team where he played a significant role, as well as on the Finnish U20 team. His hockey sense drives his value. Heinola is a calm, poised puck-moving defenseman who generates clean exits and entries with his vision, and makes plays on the man advantage. He’s fine defensively due to his positional play, despite not being the biggest defender. However, he has limitations that may hinder him as he progresses. His size is obvious but his skating is also a minor concern. His stride breaks down when he gets going in a straight line, which is worrisome in a 5-foot-11 defender. I like his edges a lot, with Heinola showing a powerful burst on his first few steps to balance out the stride issue somewhat.

NHL scout on Heinola: “His brain is fantastic. He sees the game with the best of them. His skating concerns me for a defender his size.”

Legare was a top player on one of the best teams in the CHL. The best way to describe him is he’s a power play weapon. He lines up on the left circle typically and creates so much havoc from that spot. First, he’s got one of the best shots in the draft. He’s scored a lot of goals this season wiring a shot from long distance off a post/crossbar or blowing it past a goalie. He’s a great scorer and it’s where he’ll make his money, but he’s also a very smart overall player. Legare can hit tight seams consistently and is very crafty overall with the puck. He’s not often going to wow you with an end-to-end rush, but he’s skilled. A wonky skating stride is Legare’s most noticeable weakness. He has a decent top gear, but the stride isn’t smooth with a rough first step, and he can tail off toward the end of a shift. Legare is a big body forward, but he’s not overweight, it’s a lot of muscle. That’s good, but also a minor cause for concern as scouts wonder if the skating can ever improve because his strength level is so advanced already. He’s also tough on pucks, goes to the net, is physical and is hard to dislodge along the boards.

NHL scout on Legare: “He plays a heavy game. He’s got that right-shot cannon he can launch from the circle. He’s very smart, too. I just wish he was a better skater.”

Afanasyev is an acquired taste. Initially, he didn’t do much for me, but as the season went on he kept climbing up my board, as he was one of the best forwards in the USHL and leaders in shots on goal. What’s immediately noticeable about Afanasyev is his 6-foot-4 frame and his high skill level. He’s a very coordinated puck handler for a big man who can make the flashy, between-the-legs play and toe drag. He gains the zone with skill quite often. Afannasyev also has a very hard shot, and is able to finish chances and ring iron from mid-distance. Scouts expressed concerns over his playmaking. He’s no power play quarterback, but as the season went on, he showed better passing, And while he forces plays here and there, he seems to see the game well. His main issue is so-so speed and pace combined with taking shifts off here and there. He’s not a perfect player by any means, but his strengths standout, make him valuable and could lead to him scoring in the NHL.

Muskegon Lumberjacks coach Mike Hamilton on Afanasyev: “Egor is a very skilled hockey player, his skill is through the roof. And he’s got a heavy shot. He’s worked to improve his skating and his play in all three zones.”

Fagemo went undrafted last season after a good, albeit unspectacular, draft season. He started off briefly in the J20 Sweden ranks but quickly rose up to the SHL. He was extremely productive for an 18-year-old, getting significant minutes and power play time for a Frolunda team that won the SHL. He was also impressive at the world juniors. Fagemo isn’t a guy who wows you in any one area. He skates well, but he’s not a blazer. He’s skilled but won’t have a highlight reel rush. He has a good shot and can score goals in a variety of ways, be it a hard drive or picking a corner from the circles. Fagemo gets a lot of chances close to the net, and despite not being that big or strong, he drives the net hard. He showed flashes of top-end hands and vision, but not consistently. The skill set on its own doesn’t overly excite, but it’s hard to ignore his incredible production.

Sweden’s U20 coach Tomas Monten on Fagemo: “I like his attitude and attack mentality. He skates well and drives the net. He wants to play on the inside. He has a good shot. I think the biggest difference on Samuel this year is that he’s better conditioned. He’s faster and stronger. That made a big difference to his game.”

Beecher entered the NTDP as a physical beast and was ready to win battles versus USHL players as a 16-year-old. His production this season was similar to the previous one, albeit with little to no power play time this time around. There are very few 6-foot-3 centers who can skate like Beecher. He regularly turned defenders around with his surprising speed, and with his reach/ability to protect pucks, he generated so many chances with his skating. Beecher is big, strong and plays hard. He competes hard for pucks, is physical and makes his presence known on the ice. Offensively he has some question marks in the industry about whether he’ll score in the NHL. I don’t mind his puck game. His hands are very average, but I’ve seen him pull off the odd move around a defender. I think he’s got enough vision to make plays in the NHL. He finds his options, whether a defender at the line or option near the slot to move the puck to. I don’t see a power play guy, but I could see him become a decent top-nine center with penalty kill duties.

NHL scout on Beecher: “(He is) 6-foot-3, 200 (pounds) and an elite NHL skater. Could be a good third-line guy who can kill penalties. I don’t see much offensive production in the NHL or a power-play guy.”

Poulin, the 2017 second-overall pick in the QMJHL draft, was a good junior player the past two years and got better as the season went along and in the postseason. He’s a smart and competitive winger. He’s very intelligent, flashing high-end vision and tending to make good decisions with the puck. As the season went along he showed more consistent playmaking and overall dynamic elements. He’s got some soft skill, but he’s more of a distributor than an individual creator. He’s got very good hands in tight and scored several nifty goals. His shot is also good, and he can score with his wrist shot in tight. Poulin works hard, is strong on pucks, and wins his fair share of battles along the boards and in front of the net. He’s already quite strong, measuring in at over 200 pounds. His skating is OK. Some days he flashes a good top gear and other times I don’t think his pace is anything noteworthy.

Leason was a significant riser all season. He was one of the top players in the WHL and, as a third-year, draft-eligible worked his way onto Canada’s World Junior Championship team. There were times early in the season I thought Leason wasn’t for me, but he grew on me as the season went along. He’s 6-foot-4, but also has an intriguing skill set. He’s not a highlight reel player by any means, but he has decent puck skills and can create offense with very good vision. He’s aware of his surroundings and can put pucks into seams. The biggest reason for Leason’s jump as a prospect was his skating. It improved from poor to potentially above-average. He can turn the corner occasionally on defensemen. Leason’s skating tests well, but in-game, his pace is very average. He’s big and strong, showing good puck protection skills. He’s not overly physical but competes well.

Prince Albert Raiders coach Marc Habscheid on Leason: “He’s smart. He found that extra step in his stride. He got quicker off the mark, faster. He’s big and skilled.”

Robertson is a big defenseman with a very intriguing skill set. He had a good season with Edmonton, playing all situations on a good team. He would be an above-average skater for a smaller player, which gives Robertson a lot of value in how he can break up plays. He’s also not afraid to use his speed to jump into attacks and can make a difference with his skating. Robertson has offensive ability but it was inconsistent. He’d flash good puck skills and then another shift look nervous with the puck. He’d flash good vision and then have tunnel vision or try to do too much on another shift. He’s got a first-round toolkit and I could see him developing into a very solid two-way, second-pair defenseman. But I could also easily see him not be consistent enough offensively to get out of a third-pair role.

Edmonton Oil Kings coach Brad Lauer on Robertson: “For a big guy he moves around the ice very well. He has a good first pass. He loves to jump up into the offensive attack. He defends fairly well, too, with a good stick.”

Dorofeyev was one of the best forwards in Russia’s junior league this season, often lighting up scoresheets and playing at the KHL level for long stretches – albeit with not too much effectiveness. Dorofeyev is a talented all-around threat in the offensive zone. He’s creative, he can thread passes into tough lanes and he can play through defenders with his puck skills. Dorofeyev can flash high-end offensive ability but it wasn’t consistent, and, outside of his shot, he lacked a truly dynamic variable when he had the puck. His shot is quick and he can pick a corner if given space. His game can lack urgency. He likes to slow the play down, survey his options and doesn’t often hit the blue line with speed. That said, he has a good top gear and overall skating ability when he does get going. He’s not an overly physical player, but he’s decent defensively and killed penalties at the MHL level.

NHL scout on Dorofeyev: “He’s a goal-scorer with great offensive instincts. If used correctly, he can be dangerous. I worry about his intensity at times.”

Bjornfot was a touted prospect for a few years and a minutes eater for Sweden’s international teams, including being one of the best defensemen at the U18s and named the best defenseman in Sweden’s J20 league. His skating provides a lot of his value. His ability to lead a rush, pinch off the blueline and close on his checks is very good. His feet allow him to make stops and transition pucks. He has solid defensive acumen and generally is trusted by coaches to play tougher minutes. His puck game is average. He can have the odd flash offensively due to his feet and above-average vision. His skill level doesn’t overly impress, but there were times, particularly in the second half of the season, he showed more confidence making creative plays. He could be a reliable two-way defenseman in the NHL who might not put up points.

NHL scout on Bjornfot: “He’s not flashy, but he’s a very mobile and smart defenseman. He kills a lot of plays, can skate pucks up and can give you some offense.”

Ilya Nikolaev, C, Yaroslavl-MHL
June 26, 2001 | six-foot | 190 pounds

Skating: 45
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 50
Hockey Sense: 55

Nikolaev was one of the better centers in his age group the past two years. He was impressive this season at the junior and international levels, as Russia’s No. 1 center at the U18 level, and was great in junior the last two months. He impacts the game in several ways. With the puck, he’s a highly skilled playmaker. He can make plays through defenders and is creative in how he tries to create chances. He moves the puck well and shows a high-level understanding of the game. Nikolaev might only have average size, but he competes hard, has an edge to his game and can project to kill penalties as a pro. His skating is just OK. He has an awkward skating stride that has him hunched over and limits his explosiveness. There are times I see average speed from him, and other times I worry if he’ll have enough pace and explosiveness on his first few steps to play in the NHL.

Russia U18 coach Vladimir Filatov on Nikolaev: “He’s a high character guy. He’s a warrior. He can be a checker or a scorer. He has very good hockey sense too.”

Tracey played his first full season in the WHL after playing Midget AAA as a 16-year-old. He was one of the best rookies in the league, working his way into a major offensive role on Moose Jaw’s top line and eventually Canada’s top power play at the U18s. Tracey is the kind of player who you want with the puck. He’s a creative offensive player with high-end, offensive hockey sense. He’s always looking to make a play, controls the puck well and sees his options very well. Sometimes he tries to do too much and can force pucks where the option isn’t available, but I like that he tries things. He’s got a lean body and can struggle versus bigger players, but he goes to the net, scoring a lot of goals this season around the tough areas. Tracey’s skating for me is so-so with a stride that lacks power and breaks down. He has enough speed to skate with pros but not challenge them. Some scouts like it and think, when his lanky frame fills out, he’ll be fine; but for me, he lacks that extra gear.

Canada U18 coach Brett Gibson on Tracey: “He’s an opportunistic shooter. He goes to the hard areas where goal-scorers score goals. His feet are a bit of a concern but hard to argue with his production.”

Pelletier had a great second season in the QMJHL and was among the top scorers in the league. Despite his massive point total (39 goals-89 points in 65 games), Pelletier is not a natural scorer. He’s a fine skater but doesn’t have an explosive stride. His stride breaks down at times, but I’ve seen him pull away from players at times too. He’s skilled but won’t dangle defenders or go end to end. Rather he’s a very smart and very competitive forward. Pelletier shows great vision as a playmaker and makes tough plays in small areas. If you ever can’t find Pelletier on the ice, look around the opponent’s slot or net and you’ll likely spot him. He lives in the tough areas of the ice and competes very well for pucks despite not being that big. He scores by going to the tough areas but has a sneaky good shot, too. You don’t have 39 goals by accident. He also kills penalties quite well. There are legit concerns about a player his size without great speed or hands projecting to the NHL, but he could make it based on his compete level, character and sense.

Moncton Wildcats former coach Darren Rumble on Pelletier: “He’s so smart and patient. He sees the ice well. He plays a 200-foot game. He gets so many offensive chances because he’s so good defensively. I trust him a lot. He’s a player you want to go to battle with; he brings it every night. There are zero holes in his game.

Johnson was a name touted in the prospect world for a few years. He didn’t put up amazing boxcar numbers, but he was a solid two-way defenseman for Sioux Falls who tilted the ice when he was on and was a rock at the World Jr. A Challenge for Team USA. What immediately stands out is his skating. He’s an effortless skater who can evade checks and generate clean zone exits with his feet. He’s not a blazing fast skater, but his edges and first step are high end. Johnson has a good skill level but that part of his game didn’t stand out as much as his feet. Some scouts think his puck game is great, but I’ve seen him just good in that regard. He sees the ice very well, and while he can make a big play, he also has a tendency to turn too many pucks over and at times be careless with his decisions. I don’t see him as a true point producer in the NHL. Defensively he’s not the biggest guy, but he’s so solid due to his smarts and mobility. His gap control is very good and often closes on guys quicker than they anticipate. Truth be told, he’s a player I’ve never been blown away by, but he’s a player who every scout and USHL source I know pushed very hard, so this ranking may undervalue him a bit.

Sioux Falls Stampede GM/coach Scott Owens on Johnson: “He’s a very strong skater and passer. He’s a really good defender. His offense is untapped and his offensive abilities improved over the course of the season.”

Thomson had a great first WHL season, playing big minutes in all situations for Kelowna. There are a lot of positive attributes in his game. He has an absolute rocket from the point that can beat goalies clean, as well as generate opportunities around the net. He can move the puck very well with his brain and feet. His puck game is good, showing the ability to generate clean exists and entries, stretch the ice on breakouts, and showing confidence with the puck. He can at times make high-end plays with his poise and vison, but he also tends to be too cute with the puck and play without urgency, leading to costly turnovers. Defensively I don’t mind his game, but his strength is more with the puck than without it. I think his offensive game is high-end enough to balance out any minor defensive issues. He’s going back to Finland next season.

Kelowna Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton on Thomson: “Lassi skates and handles the puck well. He’s got a big shot. He has a good first pass. He was the biggest surprise on our team and played a ton of minutes, including the first power play unit.”

Alexandrov had a great second season in the Q, becoming an all-situations center for Charlottetown and a consistent offensive threat. He’s a very smart center who makes high-level plays and is a creative passer. He can run a power play off the flank with his skill and vision. He tries to make difficult skill plays. His execution rate hasn’t been the best, but I like that he attempts to make plays. Alexandrov also has a great shot, and if he is given space, he can pick a corner. It’s hard to find a true weakness in his game. He’s not a fast skater but his stride is fine and he can gain the zone when needed but could play quicker at times. He’s not a big guy, but he works hard, gets inside the dots and can be competent defensively. With more strength on his frame, his speed and ability to win battles should improve.

NHL scout on Alexandrov: “He’s got the skill and hockey sense to be an NHLer. His skating is fine, it doesn’t hold him back. I like his versatility, too.”

Hamaliuk was a riser this season, scoring at a near point per game rate in his second WHL season and being a quality power winger for Seattle. I often found him within a few feet of the net. He plays a hard game, but he’s got a lot of skill too. His hands are good and, at times, very good. He’s not a natural playmaker but Hamaliuk is a heady player who puts pucks in the right spots and can find his teammates well. He skates fine, well for a guy who is 6-foot-3, and can gain the zone with control of the puck with his speed. His skating showed improvement from two seasons ago. The issue for him is that he missed the second half of the season with a knee injury. Given he wasn’t explosive to start, how much speed he might lose from any knee issue is something to keep in mind. There are few 6-foot-3 forwards with legit skill you will find outside the first round, so that makes him appealing.

Voronkov, a second-year-eligible forward by a handful of days, played all season versus men in Russia’s second-tier league, and looked good both at that level and at the end of the season for Russia’s U20 team. Voronkov is interesting because he’s a big forward who has offensive talent and skates relatively well. He’s not an explosive skater and the stride isn’t 100 percent technically smooth, but he can turn corners on defenders and surprise them at times with his speed. He’s got the puck skills to create space and play through opponents, occasionally flashing top-end skill. I wouldn’t classify him as a go-to guy offensively, but he makes plays, and showed versus men he can generate clean entries and create chances. He gets to the net, has an edge in his game and isn’t afraid to engage in the physical play. I see him as a player on a steep upward trajectory.

Holmstrom’s junior career has been bumpy to date due to multiple injuries the past two seasons, as he had hip surgery and tore a ligament in his thumb. When healthy, he’s generally drawn praise from scouts, and he played well at the junior and international levels. Holmstrom is a very skilled and smart winger. He makes a lot of smart decisions and finds options consistently well. With HV71, Holmstrom was often used in their setups to make plays from behind the net, and he did so very well, finding players in high-percentage areas in a variety of ways. He has slippery skill, and while he won’t often go end-to-end, he can get through defenders and have the odd impact shift with his skill. Holmstrom competes well. He’s not overly physical, but he engages defenders well and will battle for space. His skating is fine. He can show the odd burst where he turns defenders, but his overall pace is average.

Sweden’s U18 coach Magnus Havelid on Holmstrom: “He’s talented offensively. He makes great decisions with the puck, he challenges defenders very well and can protect the puck.”

Jamieson Rees, C, Sarnia-OHL
Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-10 | 172 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 45
Hockey Sense: 55

Rees consistently impressed me the past two years between the OHL and international levels. He had a good season but missed a lot of time due to a lacerated kidney and a suspension. He’s a highly skilled player with a compete level that is just as good, and he can score and kill penalties. He plays in the hard areas and one could argue he plays a little recklessly with how hard he drives the net. He’s not all grit though, as Rees is very slippery with the puck and has vision. He’s not a natural playmaker who runs a power play, but he makes high-level plays at a quick pace. Rees’ skating is an area there is some divide on. Some scouts call it average at best, and some refer to it as a strength. It might be because he plays at such a quick pace with so much energy, but the stride does break down when he gets going.

The first time I saw Grewe was at the World U17 Challenge in Fort St. John. I remember him barreling down the wing with speed, going to the net hard, finishing his checks hard and showing his skill. After one dominant stretch, a hockey executive turned to me and exclaimed: “I want him on my team!” That image of Grewe stuck with me for the past two years even though his draft season was good but not the most dominant. He’s smart, but he’s not an elite playmaker and can force plays. He skates fine, but he’s not a blazer. What Grewe does bring is a high compete level and a physical game that helps overcome his size. He goes over the line at times, a lot of his penalties this season were due to excess physicality. Grewe isn’t a grinder, though. He’s got great puck skills and makes skilled plays into the tough areas. He could be a fan favorite and a player rival fans hate.

NHL scout on Grewe: “He’s a skilled guy who is very physical. He can be a bit individualistic at times and not see all his options. He needs to be a little more disciplined, too.”

When I initially saw Maccelli last season and in the early parts of this season, I was skeptical of his NHL prospects, but he grew on me as the season went on. He evolved from a nice skills player into a 20-plus-minutes a night anchor for Dubuque, playing in every situation. Maccelli’s game starts with his skill. He’s a great puck handler who can create separation from defenders with his hands. He’s also a great playmaker who can hit seam passes consistently and run a power play. He’s not the biggest forward, but Maccelli competes fine and can kill penalties. He skates reasonably well when he gets going, but my biggest issue is the lack of pace in his game. Maccelli doesn’t often challenge defenders with speed with the puck and struggles making plays on the move. I have confidence in the talent but am curious how he’ll be able to play at the pro pace, as he heads to Liiga next season.

Dubuque Fighting Saints GM Kalle Larsson on Maccelli: “He’s one of the most offensively gifted players in the USHL. High-end stick skill and hockey sense. He can take over a game. There were games where our team played poor and Matias won the game for us by himself.”

Norlinder, a second-year-eligible draft prospect, started the season as an afterthought, playing in the Swedish junior circuit. But a midseason call-up and very strong performance versus men in the second half elevated his draft stock significantly. Norlinder so often showed the ability to use his skating to spin off pressure, lead rushes and gain the offensive zone with possession. His edge work is high-end. He has great mobility, but also has skill in his game. Norlinder often makes plays through defenders and has the vision to execute tough passes. His skill level isn’t high-end, but he has so much pace to his game and his ability to play so fast speaks to his hockey sense. Defensively he’s OK. He kills plays with his skating and showed he could defend fine versus men, but it’s not his area of strength.

NHL scout on Norlinder: “He’s a very good skater. Great edges, ability to rush pucks. He was one of MODO’s best players after he got called up to the big club.”

DonorTMB OG

I didn't know Botterill was GM in Buffalo. I had an accounting class with him in college. He's a smart guy. Those class of '97 hockey guys were all over the accounting and econ classes. Apparently he also got his MBA from Michigan.

StaffDonorTMB OG

I’ve been trying to watch clips (and some of the U18s) during the draft, and I think I’ve come up with my final top 10. It’s probably a lot different than before, but with Yzerman at the helm, I think what we are looking for has changed significantly. I’ve tried to put together a list from that perspective.

So the first thing you’ll notice is that I removed Podkolzin, Cozens and Dach from the list entirely.

Under Stevie, Tampa had skill for days. They also had a lot of pace. Podkolzin and Dach have skill but not much pace, and Cozens has pace, but not much skill. I think Yzerman will looking for guys who provide the best combo of both.

The top two are never going to change, so don’t worry about them.

Zegras is quick and has elite playmaking. I think he will stick at center, so he’s my next best guy.

Byram is everything you want in a modern D; he just doesn’t have the elite lockdown presence that will make him a true #1, but that’s okay.

Krebs is close to Zegras. He’s probably a more natural C, but not as natural a playmaker.

Turcotte is an all around great player. He would be a fine pick but he does add redundancy with Larkin and Veleno. That isn’t a bad thing, but we need playmakers.

Boldy is a playmaking W that can also be an elite defensive player.

Caufield can rip it. He may be one dimensional but that one dimension is elite.

Broberg worries me defensively but you can’t argue with his offensive ability.

Newhook just seems like an Yzerman guy. He will be a top 10 pick when all is said and done.

I really have no idea but the rumors have been out there for awhile. We shouldn't be giving assets for yet another defenseman when we just traded for Fox and have a ton of prospects on the way. He makes way more sense for Detroit but I expect the Rangers to panic and make a bad move when Panarin signs with Florida.

DonorTMB OG

He’s a RFA right now for this upcoming season. He could essentially sign a one year deal and become a UFA next year. Odds are NYR gets him to sign a long term deal however.

Click to expand...

I thought I was reading (maybe the athletic?) that there was a lot of mutual interest with Detroit and he'd be interested in coming back to Michigan to play if the money was there? You're probably right though.

DonorTMB OG

Broberg and Podkolzin seem like they have similar upsides to Dach, Cozens and Zegras. Maybe even bigger upsides, but with lower floors. But I'd hate to trade back and end up with Caufield or Boldy (as a personal preference).

Donor

In my view

Tier 1
Hughes, Kakko

Tier 2
Turcotte, Byram, Zegras, Dach, Cozens, Podkolzin and Caufield

To me that's 9, and maybe only 8 because I hesitated to include Caufield because size concerns players who i think are ahead of the pack. To me moving down to 8 wouldn't make much different, but at 10 you risk all 9 of those guys being gone. At that point I guess we would be looking at Broberg, Soderstrom or even Knight who keeps climbing rankings. I'd want a pretty good return to drop into the 10 or later range. But if we got some picks that we could flip with one of our seconds to get up to late teens and end up with Broberg and Knight I'd be down with it

Ideally you'd want to stay in that top 6 (and I bet many teams would move Dach, Zegras, or Cozens up a tier, and Caufield down. Dach seems to have some helium, and Pronman really loves Caufield more than probably most), but I could see he appeal of maybe moving down to 10 if you got a nice haul. Don't want to go too much lower than that or it seems like you are really giving up some upside with who you take.

StaffDonorTMB OG

There has been a smattering of buzz the last few weeks that we really like Mortiz Seider. He’s more of a 15-20 guy but his stock has soared in the mock draft community. If he unlocks more of his offensive upside he could be a star. Not sure that we’ve happens though.